I .
1.
to get better, stronger, etc.; to improve :
Trade usually picks up in the spring.
The wind is picking up now.
Sales have picked up 14% this year.
—related noun pickup
2.
( informal ) to start again; to continue :
Let's pick up where we left off yesterday.
3.
( informal , especially NAmE ) to put things away and make things neat, especially for sb else :
All I seem to do is cook, wash and pick up after the kids.
II .
pick up | ˌpick sth ˈup
to answer a phone :
The phone rang and rang and nobody picked up.